"Isn't that just a join?"

[da]

At the dinner table:

d: What's on your to-do list that you're stressed about? Is there anything I can do to help?

D: [touched] Thanks for asking, but I don't think so. I've got a small pile of things to do for flgbtqc, their mailing list cleaning-up at the top of the list- it's being more complicated than I thought it would be.

d: What's that involve?

D: Mostly, removing 200 names from a list of 900, where we have a separate list of updates for the 200.

d: Isn't that just a join?

D: Well, yes, sort of. The program I wrote does compare the first and second columns in the two lists; but I'm not doing it with SQL, so-

d: [interrupts] I should point out that I've never written a line of SQL in my life. And also, that phrase, "Isn't it just a join," has turned out to be quite useful a few times when I'm talking about databases to people who do understand them.

D: ... [laughs]

d: But you have to admit, it's a useful phrase.


Why yes. Yes, it is. And now we all know your secret. *evil cackle*

Comments

[sulle-stelle.livejournal.com]

I knew SQL once. I took this really awesome DB class. Too bad I've forgotten all of it. It sounds pretty easy to do, though. Do you know a sql person who can look at what you're doing?

perl/sed/awk would all work, though, too. Just not as efficiently.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

Heh. Would you believe I used dawn_guy's suggestion and did what I needed to with awk, sort, and comm? In under an hour to sort out the 200 records, with fewer annoying parts than figuring out an automatic answer.

I'd never seen comm; it's like diff but sorts into visual columns. I like that.

Now, I just have to strip out the Libraries, Meetings, and Collections, because they're permanently getting the printed copies.

Versus the big list of 800 people who didn't reply, since it's been decided by an ad-hoc committee including Clerks and our WONDEROUS treasurer (hi Stasa!), all valid addresses will receive one more newsletter with a friendly "resubscribe here" notice.

*stops talking about it and goes to do it* ;)

[morgan-starfire.livejournal.com]

Me? You, oh tiara'd one, totally rock, and are helping to keep me sane, besides. I bow down before thee.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

You can't bow down before me if I'm bowing down before thee first, Ms. jump-right-in-with-the-volunteering. :)